The cultural and creative arts sector in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is benefitting from over £17m of investment from the Good Growth Programme in a range of projects that will leave a lasting legacy for local communities.
From the creation of new spaces and refurbishment of existing ones, to events, outreach projects and digital services, the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth Programme will have invested £17.2m in cultural projects in the course of the current three-year programme, which ends in March.
This in turn has helped leverage an additional £22.4m in match funding, resulting in a total investment of £39.6m in the sector. To date this has already created almost 70 jobs, with more forecast, supported more than 2,700 local events and creative programmes, created thousands of volunteering opportunities and helped rejuvenate 28 arts and culture venues and premises.
The Good Growth investment has come from the Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund as part of a £137m local growth allocation managed by Cornwall Council. Part of the focus of the programme has been on physical projects like rehearsal and performance spaces, artist studios and museums and galleries that can be enjoyed by communities for years to come.
Cllr Louis Gardner, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for economy, said: “The Good Growth Programme’s investment in arts and culture in Cornwall and Scilly is a vital part of supporting our communities.
“By committing more than £17 million to cultural projects, we’re not just creating spaces for creativity and performance, we’re fostering connections, preserving heritage, and empowering local people. This funding will leave a lasting legacy, enriching lives and supporting economic growth by making our region an even more vibrant and inspiring place to live, work, and visit.”
Laura Giles, Creative and Cultural sector representative on the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Economic Forum, and Managing Director of Screen Cornwall, said: "This Good Growth investment has been an important boost to our creative and cultural sector, supporting creative excellence and the ambition of Cornish practitioners to export their sector leading work nationally and internationally, drive investment into creative businesses in the region, and enhance cultural experiences in communities across Cornwall.”
Investment highlights include:
- £3.4m in a new Isles of Scilly Cultural Centre and Museum, transforming the existing Town Hall in Hugh Town on St Mary’s into a new home for the museum, providing a performance and exhibition space for local artists and performers, a new café, acting as an Island Hall for the local community and containing tourist information for the island.
- £2.3m investment in the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro to transform the Heart of Cornwall exhibition within the main gallery of the museum, as well as a programme of activity building skills in science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. The museum is scheduled to reopen under a new name in March, with a new website launched in February.
- £929k towards Hwel An Gwrians / The Creation Works, which is replacing a row of derelict garages with a sustainable, accessible, residential rehearsal and creative development centre situated in the heart of Par bay, bringing local, national and international artists together with the local community.
- £600k investment in The Ladder, a new arts and culture hub in Redruth. The former Passmore Edwards Library Building is undergoing extensive renovation to provide rehearsal, performance, co-working and workshop space for artists and the local community.
- A £260k investment in Sterts Theatre in South East Cornwall to replace its iconic but storm-damaged tent structure with a more robust steel framed building allowing the much-loved venue to extend its season and host a much wider range of arts, heritage and environmental events.
- £705k awarded to CAST (the Cornubian Arts and Science Trust) in the centre of Helston for a programme of capital works to its building including renovations of public areas and access routes, as well as the development of new work with schools and young people.
- A £396k investment in Screen Cornwall to raise the profile of Cornish language, culture and heritage media representation on screen, whilst encouraging talent development and investment in the film sector.
In addition, Good Growth investment has supported arts and cultural events across Cornwall and Scilly, from traditional gig rowing to the Festival of Tech taking place in February.
Find out more on the Good Growth website
ENDS
Posted 11 February, 2025
